The Ride

Woke up, destroyed a buffet breakfast, failed to transport Holly side-saddle, just about managed to transport her legs-akimbo, visited Apak Hoja's Tomb - the most beautiful building I've seen in China, saw the old British Consulate, failed to find a gin and tonic, had a final kebab and naan fling and then had the perfect ending.

All day I had been playing a game with the 11-16 year olds of Kashgar whereby the first one to say hello in a friendly and open manner would win my bike. We had nearly returned to the hotel by the time the winner revealed himself, after a brief conversation where I explained why I wasn't keeping the bike and he finally believed it wasn't a wind up he looked delighted, as any teenager given a free mountain bike would!